Veronica plant named ‘Balmoodink’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Veronica  plant named ‘Balmoodink’, characterized by its deep purplish-pink colored flowers, dark green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, compact, upright-mounded growth habit, is disclosed.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Veronica spicata.

Variety denomination: ‘Balmoodink’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Veronica plant botanically known as Veronica spicata and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Balmoodink’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Cochranville, Pa., during October 2013. The objective of the breeding program was the development of Veronica cultivars that flower without a vernalization requirement, have attractive and numerous inflorescences, and a compact, upright-mounded growth habit.

The new Veronica cultivar was the result of cross-pollination. The female (seed) parent of the new cultivar is MOODY BLUES Mauve ‘Novavermau’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 26,621, characterized by its medium purple-colored flowers, dark green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, compact, upright-mounded growth habit. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar is MOODY BLUES Pink ‘Novaverpin’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,748, characterized by its very pale purple-colored flowers, dark green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, compact, upright-mounded growth habit. The new cultivar was discovered and selected as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the above stated cross-pollination during June 2016 in a controlled environment in Cochranville, Pa.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings since June 2016 in Cochranville, Pa. and Elburn, Ill. has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish ‘Balmoodink’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Veronica plant:

-   -   1. Deep purplish-pink colored flowers;     -   2. Dark green-colored foliage; and     -   3. Moderately vigorous, compact, upright-mounded growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parent primarily in having more red coloration in the flower color. Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the male parent primarily in having a darker purple flower color.

Of the many commercially available Veronica cultivars, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is MOODY BLUES Mauve Improved ‘Balmoomaui’, co-pending application. However, in side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Balmoomaui’ in at least the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have more red coloration in the         flower color than plants of ‘Balmoomaui’;     -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have more inflorescences per plant         than plants of ‘Balmoomaui’; and     -   3. Plants of the new cultivar have shorter leaves than plants of         ‘Balmoomaui’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical flower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Balmoodink’. The plants were approximately four months old. The plants were grown as three plants per pot in one-gallon containers for approximately 11 weeks in a greenhouse in Elburn, Ill. followed by 3.5 weeks in an open-sided polyhouse in West Chicago, Ill. Plants were given one pinch at approximately one week before transplant.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habit of ‘Balmoodink’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of the inflorescences of ‘Balmoodink’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2015 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined in July 2019 under natural light conditions in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe approximately four-month old plants produced from cuttings from stock plants and grown under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. The plants were grown as three plants per pot in one-gallon containers for approximately 11 weeks in a greenhouse in Elburn, Ill. followed by 3.5 weeks in an open-sided polyhouse in West Chicago, Ill. Plants were given one pinch at approximately one week before transplant. Greenhouse temperatures in Elburn, Ill. were maintained at approximately 65° F. to 70° F. (18.3° C. to 21.1° C.) during the day and approximately 55° F. to 60° F. (12.8° C. to 15.6° C.) during the night. No supplemental lighting was provided. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plants.

-   Botanical classification: Veronica spicata ‘Balmoodink’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—MOODY BLUES Mauve ‘Novavermau’, U.S. Plant             Pat. No. 26,621.         -   Male parent.—MOODY BLUES Pink ‘Novaverpin’, U.S. Plant Pat.             No. 25,748. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.         -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 7 to 10 days.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 35 to 42             days.         -   Root description.—Fibrous.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 10 to 12 weeks from a             rooted cutting to finish in a 15 cm pot. Vernalization to             initiate flowering is not required.         -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Herbaceous perennial,             moderately vigorous, compact, upright-mounded.         -   Hardiness.—USDA Zone 4b (−25° F. to −20° F./−31.7 ° C. to             −28.9° C.).         -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:             Approximately 38.0 cm. Width: Approximately 38.0 cm.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching, pinching enhances basal             branching. Quantity of main branches per plant:             Approximately 8.         -   Branch.—Strength: Moderate. Branch height to bottom of             inflorescence: Approximately 23.0 cm. Diameter:             Approximately 3.0 mm. Length of central internode:             Approximately 4.0 cm. Texture: Densely pubescent. Color of             young stems: 146B. Color of mature stems: 146B, becoming             woody 200D with age. -   Foliage description:     -   -   General description.—Quantity of leaves per main branch:             Approximately 8. Fragrance: None detected. Form: Simple.             Arrangement: Opposite, decussate.         -   Leaves.—Aspect: Perpendicular to stem. Shape: Lanceolate.             Margin: Serrate. Apex: Acute to broadly acute. Base:             Attenuate. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length of mature leaf:             Approximately 7.2 cm. Width of mature leaf: Approximately             2.1 cm. Texture of upper surface: Sparsely pubescent.             Texture of lower surface: Sparsely pubescent and moderately             pubescent on venation. Color of upper surface of young and             mature foliage: Closest to NN137A. Color of lower surface of             young and mature foliage: Closest to 137B. Venation of upper             and lower surface: 147C.         -   Petioles.—Length: Approximately 9.0 mm. Width: Approximately             4.0 mm. Texture: Sparsely pubescent. Color: 147C. -   Flowering description:     -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Balmoodink’ is a long-day obligate, freely             flowering under outdoor growing conditions blooming from             early spring through autumn.         -   Lastingness of individual flower on the plant.—Approximately             7 days. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   General description.—Type: Terminal raceme, self-cleaning.             Fragrance: None detected. Height: Approximately 9.0 cm to             13.0 cm. Width: Approximately 1.5 cm to 2.0 cm. Quantity per             plant: Approximately 10.         -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Erect. Length:             Approximately 4.0 cm to 7.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately 1.0             mm to 2.0 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent. Color: 146B. -   Flower description:     -   -   General description.—Type: Single, salverform. Aspect:             Outward. Quantity per inflorescence: Approximately 90.         -   Bud.—Rate of opening: Generally takes 3 to 4 days for bud to             progress from first color to fully open flower.         -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Oblong. Length:             Approximately 6.0 mm. Diameter: Approximately 2.0 mm.             Texture: Glabrous. Color: 73A with NN155A at base.         -   Corolla.—Height: Approximately 8.0 mm. Diameter:             Approximately 9.0 mm.         -   Petals.—Quantity: 4. Appearance: Dull. Shape: Elliptic.             Margin: Entire, wavy. Apex: Broadly acute. Base: Fused into             tube. Length: Approximately 5.0 mm. Width: Approximately 2.0             mm to 5.0 mm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces: Glabrous.             Color of upper and lower surfaces when first open: 73B.             Color of upper and lower surfaces when fully open 73A to             73B.         -   Corolla tube.—Length: Approximately 3.0 mm. Diameter at tube             opening: Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture of inner surface:             Densely pubescent. Color of pubescence: NN155D. Texture of             outer surface: Glabrous. Color of inner surface: NN155D.             Color of outer surface: NN155D with a faint overlay of 73B.         -   Calyx.—Shape: Cupped. Length: Approximately 4.0 mm.             Diameter: Approximately 3.0 mm.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: 4. Shape: Lanceolate, fused at             base. Apex: Acute. Length: Two larger sepals approximately             4.0 mm and two smaller sepals approximately 3.0 mm. Width of             all sepals: Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture of upper (inner)             surface: Glabrous. Texture of lower (outer) surface:             Moderately pubescent and densely pubescent on margins. Color             of upper and lower surfaces: 137B with 146D at base.         -   Pedicel.—Strength: Strong, flexible. Aspect: Approximately             45° angle from peduncle. Length: Approximately 1.0 mm.             Diameter: Approximately 0.5 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent.             Color: 146B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity: 2 per             flower. Stamen length: Approximately 9.0 mm. Filament color:             73D. Anther shape: Sagittate, dorsifixed. Anther length:             Approximately 1.0 mm. Anther color: 79C. Pollen amount:             Abundant. Pollen color: 2D. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: 1             per flower. Pistil length: Approximately 8.0 mm. Stigma             shape: Rounded. Stigma length: Less than 1.0 mm. Stigma             color: 79C. Style length: Approximately 7.0 mm. Style color:             79D. Ovary diameter: Approximately 1.0 mm. Ovary color:             145A. -   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has     been observed. -   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests     common to Veronica has not been observed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Veronica plant named ‘Balmoodink’, substantially as herein illustrated and described. 